Estonia Would Like to Include Human Rights in UN Sustainable Development Goals

22.07.2013

No 245-E

Today at the meeting of the European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that Estonia would like for the European Union to continue its active engagement in advancing the protection of the rights of women next year. “We would like to include human rights in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” said the Estonian foreign minister.

“The European Union has a firm desire to promote human rights and democracy in the world, which was demonstrated by the European Union appointing a Special Representative for Human Rights in September of last year as well as the many human rights-related initiatives in the European Union,” Paet noted.

Paet stated that over the past few years, the human rights space has been noticeably constricted all over the world. “It is regrettable that the ability of NGOs and promoters of civil society to do their work has been reduced in the world, including in areas near the EU,” he stated.

The foreign minister also added that it is important for the European Union to speak with one voice in the human rights dialogue with other countries.